in answer to the low groan and immediate rocking motion.

"Carey...I—I can't...feels so good...oh, Carey."

"Yes?" she asked innocently, flexing her leg muscles. "Are you going to do it again?"

Grace nodded vigorously. "I can't help it," she gasped, her hips moving purposefully against Carey's thigh. "Oh...Carey."

Carey was no less amazed than she was the first time. Grace's eyes were tightly closed, unintelligible sounds coming from her parted lips as her rocking increased to a frantic rhythm. "I'm right here," Carey said, rubbing her knuckles against the erect nipples.

"Mmm, it...oh...oh Carey it feels so good...oh...don't stop."

"I won't," she promised, using her thumbs and forefingers to pinch lightly.

"Oh God...Carey...Carey...mmm...I...I..." Grace threw her head back, teeth gritted as her body trembled. She gave a soft cry as waves of pleasure buffeted through her.

Carey rolled over, capturing Grace's mouth with her own. "I have to go," she said apologetically.

"I know," Grace said, gently guiding Carey onto her back and snuggling up against her.

"What are you thinking about?" Carey asked.

Grace kissed Carey's shoulder. "I was just thinking I'm happy I waited."

Carey smiled and pulled her closer. "You think so, huh?"

"You're a wonderful lover," Grace said softly. "You were so gentle and...and..." She kissed the bare skin again. "I don't know how to explain it." She sighed happily. "Better than I imagined it would be."

Carey kissed the top of her head. "Sweet talker."

"Carey?"

"Hmm?"

"Was I...I mean...did I do okay? Really?"

"Oh, Grace," Carey said. "You..." She rolled them over so the young woman was beneath her."...were terrific." She touched Grace's lips with her finger. "Everything I could ask for...and then some," she added with a smile.

"Know what?"

"What?"

"Now I understand why lesbians don't use dental dams," she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

Carey smiled and groaned. "Don't get me thinking about that," she said, giving Grace a quick kiss before getting out of bed. "Sue's gonna kill me. I should have been on the road by now," she said, grabbing her clothes and quickly pulling them on.

Grace crawled to the edge of the bed and watched her dress. "I wish you didn't have to go."

"I wish I didn't have to either." She walked to the dresser mirror and quickly ran a comb through her hair. "Well, I guess I'm ready."

"Are you going to miss me?" Grace asked, a little pout forming on her face.

Carey walked to the nude woman perched on the edge of the bed.

"I'm going to miss you desperately." She opened her arms. "Come here."

Grace fairly flew off the bed and into her arms. "It's not fair that I had to wait so long, and now you're leaving."

"I know, baby. But I have responsibilities. I have to go."

"Why did I have to fall in love with someone who's so...responsible?"

"I haven't a clue," Carey said, brushing her lips against Grace's. "But I'm awfully glad you did."

Grace wrapped her arms around Carey as she deepened the kiss.

"Believe me when I tell you that it's just as hard for me to leave you as it is for you to watch me go," Carey said when they finally came up for air. "I'd give anything if I didn't have to leave you right now." She leaned over for one last kiss, and then she was gone.

"It's about time you got here," Carey heard as she reached the mess hall.

"Sorry, traffic was murder," she said to Gage. "Any problems?"

"Not at this end. How was graduation?"

"Nice," Carey said. "Her father gave her a new computer for a graduation gift."

"Did she like your present?"

"Um...yes," Carey said, coloring at the thought.

"Uh-huh, Joanna Carey, tell me you didn't."

"How did PT go?" she asked, knowing full well her friend could read the answer on her face.

"You did," Gage said, moving closer so they wouldn't be overheard. "You slept with her?" she whispered.

"Let's talk about it later," Carey said.

"Oh no," Gage said, guiding her away from the noisy teens and over near the door. "So now what?"

"I don't know," Carey said. "Grace is going to visit her father in Alaska for the summer and then decide if she's going to go on to a four- year college or get a job."

"And what about the two of you?"

Carey shook her head. "I'm not moving to Alaska, so I guess it's up to her."

"Are you going to move her into the cabin if she comes back?"

"You're assuming she wants something more with me," Carey said, keeping her eye on the roomful of girls. "Maybe what happened will change things for her. You know, you try so hard to get something and once you've got it, you don't want it. Maybe she'll meet someone in Alaska."

"Uh-huh," Gage said. "And maybe I'll wake up and be six feet tall."

"It's possible, Sue," Carey said. "She's had the experience now. The thrill is gone, as they say."

A truly devilish look came over Sue's face. "I didn't know you were that lousy."

"I'm not," Carey said, giving withering glares to the girls who looked their way. "That's not what I meant." An image of Grace leaning over her, naked and on the verge of orgasm, flashed through her mind. "Far from it," she said with a rakish grin.

"Well I'm glad she enjoyed it," Gage said. "She certainly waited long enough."

Carey smiled when she heard the car pull up. "I knew you'd be early," she said, rising from the recliner and going to the door. When she opened it, an excited Grace ran into her arms. "Hi."

"Hi yourself," Grace said, brushing her lips over Carey's. "I've missed you so much.”

"I've missed you too," Carey said, pulling her inside and closing the door. There was no hesitation as she leaned forward, trapping Grace against the door, kissing her with all the pent-up feelings that two months without her brought. "Mmm, so much."

"I need to get my suitcase."

"Later," Carey said, as she took her hand and led her into the bedroom. "I have to have you now."

"Absence really does make the heart grow fonder," Grace said as Carey started to unbutton her shirt. "What happened to the woman that ran from me for two years?"

Carey pushed the shirt over her shoulders, then leaned forward for another kiss. "She was seduced by a beautiful blonde vixen, and then spent two months alone dreaming about it."

"Did she, now?"

"Yes, she did. Now shut up and kiss me."

Grace wrapped her arms around Carey's neck, happy to oblige.

Carey rolled onto her side and pulled Grace into her arms. "That was so worth the wait."

"Oh, yeah," Grace said, leaning over for another kiss.

"I thought I was gonna go crazy from wanting you." Carey's hand slid down Grace's back and stopped to caress her lovely backside. "I just don't seem to be able to get enough of you. I love to touch you."

"Sweetheart, two months is nothing. You don't know what going crazy from wanting is until you spend two years waiting and hoping."

"It felt like forever."

"I know."

They held each other in comfortable silence, happy that the waiting was finally over.

"Carey?"

"Hmm?"

"I decided to take the job in Mohawk," Grace said.

"Did you?"

Grace snuggled closer. "Mmm." She kissed Carey's neck. "I couldn't bear the thought of being away from you for two more years."

Carey smiled. "I'm glad. I don't think I could bear it either."

"So what happens tomorrow?"

"What do you mean?"

Grace sat up and looked down at her prone lover. "Do I start looking for an apartment?"

Carey rolled onto her side and propped her head up with her hand.

"When do you start your job?"

"Next Monday," Grace said.

Carey took several breaths before speaking. "You know it's an hour each way to Mohawk."

"It's a pretty ride."

"Not in the winter."

"Carey?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want me to find an apartment?"

"What do you want?"

"You should know what I want by now," Grace said, gently rubbing Carey's belly. "I want to be with you."

"You sure? Two hours a day might not seem too much at first, but day in and day out might be a strain."

"Ah, but I forgot to tell you that I'll be working from home on my computer. I only have to drive into the office once a week, but I wouldn't care if it was ten hours away, I'd drive it happily to be with you each night." She leaned down and kissed Carey's shoulder. "But I'll never sleep on the couch again."

Carey smiled. "I didn't think you would," she said. "You worked too hard to get into the bedroom." She let her fingers play idly with the short blonde hair. "I miss you when you're not here. Sue can tell you what a bear I've been."

"I want to stay," Grace said.

"I can't make any promises, Grace."

"I know."

Carey looked at her for several seconds before answering. "I should say no."

"If it's a snowy night, I'll stay in Mohawk," Grace offered. "I can stay with Tom and Stuart or I can get a motel." She kissed Carey.

Slowly nodding, Carey gave in. "We can give it a try." She looked deeply into crystal blue eyes. "I care about you so much. I don't want to see you hurt, especially by me."

"I'm not seventeen anymore," Grace said softly. "I know what I'm getting into. I'm willing to take the chance." She lightly stroked the side of Carey's breast. "I want to be here with you."